Pump



Dec. 10, 1968 G. J. LAPPO 3,415,198

PUMP

Filed Aug. 16, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY GEORGE J. LAPPO AT TORNEYS PUMP Filed Aug. 16. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 240 39 an 4| 5? s7 s5 54 INVENTOR. GEORGE J. LAPPO Jill, M

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office Patented Dec. 10, 1968 PUMP GeorgeJ. Lappo, 1448 W. 45th St., Cleveland, Ohio 44102 Filed Aug. 16, 1966,Ser. No. 572,738 8 Claims. (Cl. 103-150) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Theinvention :is concerned with a pump which is especially useful forprividing a water pressure system for trailers and the like, and whichcomprises a one-piece housing having a concentric arrangement of fluidantechamber and inlet chambers, a novel disposition of a fluid pumpingdiaphragm over these chambers, novel means for introducing atmosphericair into the fluid inlet chamber, and for controlling the fluid pumpingaction.

This invention relates generally to pumps, but has reference moreparticularly to a pump which is especially useful for providing a waterpressure system for trailers and the like.

Pumps of this general type are described, for example, in Patents Nos.2,980,031, 3,070,029 and 3,194,576, but these pumps are of extremelycomplicated and expensive design or construction, and are not adaptablefor use in all positions.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of a pumpof the above-described character, which is of extremely simpleconstruction, enabling it to be manufactured at low cost, and sold incommercially feasible quantities.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pump of the characterdescribed, consisting of parts which can be made with a minimum ofmachining or other mechanical operations, and which can be quickly andeasily assembled, or disassembled, for replacement of any of the parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of the characterdescribed, having incorporated therein pulsation eliminating members ofnovel design and construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of the characterdescribed, having incorporated therein certain novel and usefulfeatures, including means for admitting atmospheric air into the waterwhich is being pumped, -a micro-switch for controlling the waterpressure provided by the pump, etc.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pump of thecharacter described, which may be used efliciently in virtually anyposition.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

FIG. 1 is a view of the pump, partly in side elevation, and partly incross-section;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the means for admittingatmospheric air into the water inlet chamber.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is disclosed aplatform or base 1, having secured to the corners thereof rubber vacuumor suction cups 2, whereby the base may be supported on any suitablesmooth supporting surface 3.

Secured to the base 1, as by means of bolts 4 and nuts 5, is asupporting bracket or cradle 6, for an electricallydriven motor 7.

The motor 7 drives an endless cog belt 8, which, in turn, drives a gearor pinion 9, which is supported for rotation on a bearing 10, which, inturn, is supported by the cover or end plate 11 of the pump.

The pump comprises the covers or end plates 11 and 12, which, as shownin FIG. 2, are rectangular in form, and a cylindrical body or housing,designated generally by the reference numeral 13, interposed between thecovers or end plates 11 and 12. The covers 11 and 12 and the body orhousing 13 are removably secured together by means of bolts 14 and nuts15. The two lower bolts 14 extend through an upright end flange 16 ofthe base 1, so that the pump is thus removably supported on the baseplate.

For the sake of lightness and economy, the body or housing 13 of thepump is preferably molded in a single piece, of a plastic, to provide acylindrical outer wall 17, a dome-like partition having a concave wall18, a convex wall 19, and a flat wall 20. At the intersection of theconvex wall 19 and the flat wall 20, the housing is formed to provide anannular flange 21, which is in concentric spaced relation to the wall17.

The flange 21 is provided with a series of circumferentially spacedwater inlet openings 22 through which water is adapted to pass into thewater inlet chamber or compartment 23 formed by the wall 20 and flange21.

The openings 22 are normally closed by means of a flexible annularrubber valve 24, having a base flange 25 which seats on the wall 20.

The dome-like partition, to which reference has been made, is providedwith a multiplicity of openings 26, which extend from the wall 20 of thepartition to the concave wall 18, and provide for passage of watertherethrough from the chamber or compartment 23 to a water outletchamber or compartment 27 formed by the concave wall 18.

The outlet ends of the openings 26 are normally covered by a flexibledisc-shaped rubber valve 28, which is secured to the central portion ofthe wall 18 by means of a pin 29 and a washer 30.

The body or housing 13 is provided with a water inlet tube 31, whichadmits water into an annular ante-chamber 32, which is formed by thewall 17, wall 19 and flange 21. In addition to its function of providinga manifold for admitting water into the openings 22, the ante-chamber 32serves another purpose to be presently described.

The body or housing 13 is also provided with a water outlet tube 33which conducts the water from the water outlet chamber or compartment27, and is parallel with the inlet tube 31.

Secured to one end of the wall 17 and to the end of the flange 21 is amolded flexible rubber diaphragm 34, this diaphragm being clamped to thehousing by the cover or end plate 11.

The pinion or gear 9 is provided with an eccentric pin 35, which impartsreciprocal movement to a crank 36 having a crank arm 37, which, as bestseen in FIG. 3, is secured to the central portion of the diaphragm 34 bymeans of circular plates 38 and 39, and a bolt 40, which extends throughthese plates and is threaded into an axial bore 41 in the arm 37.

Disposed within the water outlet chamber 27 is a hollow hemisphericalmember 43, molded of flexible rubber, and having a disc-like base 44,providing an annular flange 45, which is clamped between one end of thehousing 13 and the cover or end plate 12. The function of the member 43and its base 44 will be presently described.

With the pump as thus described, the operation of the pump may bedescribed as follows.

On the intake stroke of the pump, as represented by the position of thecrank 36 shown in solid lines in FIG. 1,

the suction created by the movement of the diaphragm 34 to the positionshown in FIG. 1, causes water to be drawn from a source of supply intothe tube 31 and antechamber 32. At the same time, the valve 24 is suckedaway from the flange 21 to permit water from the chamber 32 into thecompartment 23. Moreover, the rubber valve 28 remains in closedposition, as shown in FIG. 1, due to the aforesaid suction created bythe diaphragm 34.

On the discharge stroke of the pump, as represented by the position ofthe crank 36 shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, and by the position of thebolt shown in broken lines, the pressure of the diaphragm 34 on thewater in the compartment 23 causes the valve 24 to close and the valve28 to open, permitting the water to be discharged through the openings26, into the compartment 27 and out through the outlet tube 33.

For the purpose of eliminating pulsations during operation of the pump,which cause vibrations and noise, and which interfere with the smoothand uninterrupted operation of the pump, I have provided novel pulsationeliminators.

One of these pulsation eliminators is in the form of a hollowtorus-shaped member 46, molded of soft flexible rubber, and disposedwithin the ante-chamber 32 between the wall 17 and flange 21 andadjacent the wall 19. This member 46 has closed ends 47 and 48 (FIG. 2),spaced apart to form a gap or space 49 therebetween to facilitatepassage of water from the tube 31 into the ante-chamber 32. The member46 acts as a cushion which takes the impact of the water entering thechamber 32, and thus aids in preventing pulsation.

The other of the pulsation eliminators is the hemispherical member 43,which cushions the impact of the water which enters the chamber 27, andthus aids in preventing pulsation.

In the event the pressure of the water in the compartment 27 becomesexcessive, the member 43 will be compressed radially towards the centerof the member 43, compressing the air within such member, and causingthe central portion of the base 44 to be distended toward the left, asseen in FIG. 1, and outwardly through the opening 50 in the end plate12. This causes a micro-switch 51 to be opened, and since this switch isin the circuit to the motor 7, the motor will stop until the pressure inthe chamber 27 drops sufiiciently to permit the micro-switch 51 toclose, placing the motor 7 in operation again. This arrangement of theparts 44, 50 and 51 thus constitutes a means of controlling the waterpressure in the system.

I have found, as the result of a series of tests, that a smootheroperation of the pump may be effected by ad mitting atmospheric air intothe compartment 23 on the intake stroke of the pump.

For this puropse, the crank arm 37, as best seen in FIG. 3, is providedwith a radial passageway 52 into which atmospheric air, controlled as toamount by an adjusting screw 53, may be admitted. The passageway 52communicates with an axial passageway or bore 54, which, in turn,communicates with one end of the axial bore 41. The junction of thepassageways 41 and 54 provides a seat 55 for a ball valve 56, which isnormally closed by means of a compression coil spring 57, which isinterposed between the stem of the bolt 40 and the valve 56. The boltalso has an axial passageway 58 which communicates with the compartment23.

On the intake stroke of the pump, the valve 56 is opened, thuspermitting atmospheric air to pass through the screw 53, passageways 52and 54, bore 41 and passageway 58 into the compartment 23.

On the discharge stroke of the pump, the spring 57 will cause the valve56 to be seated or closed.

This admission of atmospheric air into the compartment 23 will occur oneach intake stroke of the pump, and results in a smoother and moreefficient operation of the pump.

The pump is thus of extremely simple construction,

sembled and disassembled for replacement of any of the parts.

porated therein pulsation-eliminating members of novel design andconstruction.

The pump is still further characterized as having incorporated thereinnovel and useful features, including means for admitting atmospheric airin the water which is being pumped, a micro-switch for controlling thewater pressure, etc.

Due to the manner in which the pump is constructed and assembled, it maybe used efficiently in any and all positions.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown anddescribed, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatvarious changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of partsthereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the subjoined claims.

Having thus described by invention, I claim:

1. In a pump of the character described, a housing having an outercylindrical wall, a partition interconnecting said wall, and an annularflange formed integrally with and extending from said partition inconcentric spaced relation to said outer wall, and forming with saidpartition and outer wall an annular ante-chamber, and forming with saidpartition a fluid inlet chamber spaced radiallyinwardly from saidante-chamber for receiving fluid from said ante-chamber, said partitionproviding a fluid outlet chamber at the side thereof opposite said fluidinlet chamber, a flexible pumping diaphragm disposed against one end ofsaid flange and against one end of said outer cylindrical wall andoverlying said anti-chamber and fluid inlet chamber, and means forreciprocating the central portion of said diaphragm.

2. A pump, as defined in claim 1, including cover plates clamped to theends of said outer cylindrical wall of said housing.

3. A pump, as defined in claim 1, wherein said flange is provided withcircumferentially-spaced openings for the passage of fluid from saidante-chamber to said fluid inlet chamber, and a flexible annular valveis provided within said fluid inlet chamber which closes said openings.

4. A pump, as defined in claim 4, wherein said partition is providedwith a plurality of openings for the passage of fluid from said fluidinlet chamber to said fluid outlet chamber, and a flexible disc-shapedvalve is secured to said partition for closing said last-named openings.

5. A pump, as defined in claim 1, including means responsive to thefluid pressure in said fluid outlet chamber for controlling saidreciprocating means.

6. A pump, as defined in claim 1, including a pulsationreducing memberdisposed in said anti-chamber, and a pulsation-reducing member disposedin said fluid outlet chamber.

7. In a pump of the character described, a housing having an outercylindrical wall, a partition interconnecting said wall, and an annularflange extending from said partition in concentric spaced relation tosaid outer wall, and forming with said partition and outer wall anantechamber, and forming with said partition a fluid inlet chamber forreceiving fluid from ante-chamber, said flange provided withcircumferentially-spaced openings for the passage of fluid from saidante-chamber to said fluid chamber, a flexible annular valve provided insaid fluid inlet chamber which closes said openings, said partitionproviding a fluid outlet chamber at the side thereof opposite said fluidinlet chamber, said partition provided with a plurality of openings forthe passage of fluid from said fluid inlet chamber to said fluid outletchamber, a flexible disk-shaped valve secured to said partition for Thepump is further characterized as having incorclosing said last-namedopenings, a pulsation reducing member disposed in said antechamber, apulsation reducing member disposed in said fluid outlet chamber, aflexible pumping diaphragm overlying said ante-chamber and fluid inletchamber, means for reciprocating the central portion of said diaphragm,and cover plates clamped to the ends of said outer cylindrical wall.

8. A pump, as defined in claim 7, including means responsive to thefluid pressure in said fluid outlet chamber for controlling saidreciprocating means.

References Cited Smith 103150 Baker et al. 103228 Randolph 103228 Folley230-231 Carter 103150 Guinard et a1 10325 Smith 103223 X Gramenzi 10325FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain. Great Britain.

US. Cl. X.R.

